What is the ideal time commitment for youth volunteers? Our pilot process included nine virtual sessions over four months.Here we share some of our observations and initial panel feedback: Through the pilot, we have identified many learning questions to strengthen our understanding of youth engagement and participatory grantmaking best practices. Have you met GFC’s first-ever Spark Fund partners? In December, ten youth panelists selected 12 community organizations, primarily youth-led, in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine in our newest participatory grantmaking initiative. Feminismd is one of GFC's new Spark Fund partners. What are we learning about fostering meaningful spaces for young people in participatory grantmaking?Ī young person participating in a Feminismd event in Moldova. The RINGO Project – Seeks to transform global civil society by interrogating the purpose, structures, power, and positioning of international NGOs.Community-Centric Fundraising – Aspires to transform fundraising and philanthropy by prioritizing the entire community over individual organizations in ways that are grounded in racial and economic justice.Grassroots Solidarity Revolution – Amplifies the voices and visions of grassroots groups and invests in inclusive spaces to build radical solidarity between activists and donors.We Trust You(th) Initiative – Brings together funders, NGOs, and youth in a global problem-solving community for more equitable partnerships with youth.Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR) – Influences agenda setting in global policy processes and institutions so local and national actors have more powerful voices in humanitarian aid.Here are some initiatives with bold visions for change: We must heed the calls to shift power led by community and grassroots actors to strengthen sustainable development, justice, and equity. Over the last several years, we have mapped dozens of emerging initiatives to reimagine philanthropy and global development. How can funders follow the lead of the grassroots community to shift power?Ī growing map of resources to reimagine philanthropy and global development. As a result, partners have tried new approaches to community listening and engagement, and already they are beginning to see changes in mindsets about girls’ rights, children’s education, and ownership of their community’s development.Ĭheck out some great resources about feedback from Feedback Labs. Creating listening cultures can shift approaches in communities: The culture of listening and shared learning within the partner network led to partners attending an extensive training in Liberia with Tostan that focused on the importance of listening to understand social norms governing beliefs and behaviors.With GFC’s core flexible funding, partners can respond to their community’s priorities without being concerned about donor requirements.

Flexible funding makes listening and feedback relevant: Amé has heard directly from partners that they sometimes cannot meet important needs due to the restrictive nature of much of their funding.Amé continued to listen by intentionally incorporating feedback processes into a kickoff convening and organizational capacity development efforts. Listening is a process, not a one-time event: Amé first practiced deep listening with these six community-based organizations during scouting visits, before the organizations were even selected as partners, to establish trust.Listening can only be effective when funders practice what they preach and lead by example to inspire community-based partners. Her approach is inspired by the way her team leader and GFC’s senior management team listen to her and give her feedback and support. Listening is more effective when it is part of funders’ organizational culture:Īmé has cultivated a practice of authentically listening to partners because it is a core part of GFC’s organizational culture.She highlighted how listening has contributed to building trust and strengthening a network initiative of six community-based organizations addressing violence against girls in Sierra Leone and Liberia. GFC’s Regional Capacity Development Specialist for West Africa, Amé Atsu David, recently spoke at the Feedback+ Summit in Jacksonville, Florida, on the impact of deeply listening to partners. Listening is one of GFC’s core practices as a grantmaking partner. GFC President and CEO John Hecklinger and Regional Capacity Development Specialist for West Africa Amé Atsu David at the Feedback+ Summit.

Virtual city playground issues